9 minute read
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Neil Gearheart, ex-Medallion
Industries, has joined the sales team at Parr Lumber, Portland, Or. Laurens van Kleef has been named the timbers & marine lumber program manager at Nova USA
Wood Products, Portland, Or. Jeff Cain, ex-Milgard, has been named general mgr. of OrePac
Building Products, Tacoma, Wa.
Giuk Sol, ex-Codel Doors, joins him as prefinish mgr. David Martinez is new to OrePac’s outside sales team in southern Colorado. Ronnie Barrett has been promoted to sawmill supervisor at Hampton
Lumber, Morton, Wa. Jimmie Walker, ex-Lowe’s, is a new kitchen & bath designer at Dixieline
Lumber, San Diego, Ca. Don O’Keefe is now in outside sales with Honsador Lumber, Kailua-
Kona, Hi. Josh Phillips has been promoted to operations mgr. for Roseburg
Forest Products/Coquille Plywood,
Coos Bay, Or.
Joshua Mungarro is a new mgr. trainee at 84 Lumber, Yucaipa, Ca. Lindsey Balfe, daughter of David Shayne Bastian has been promoted
McNabb, has joined her father’s to branch mgr. at L&W Supply, Fort company, DM Forest Products, Collins, Co.
Hillsboro, Or., as office mgr./ Doug DeLuca, ex-Lansing Building bookkeeper/sales trainee. Products, has joined Avon Plastics Erica Scranton, former mgr. of Sheri- as VP of sales & marketing. dan Ace Hardware, is now in sales Bill Brooks, HPM Building Supply, at Mead Lumber, Sheridan, Wy. CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY on a new TFL plant in Klamath Falls, has been promoted to regional Tony Vuksich, VP, Willamette Valley Or., to meet growing demand in the West. mgr.-Kauai, Hi. Co., Eugene, Or., retired last month after 50 years with the company (see photo below). Wilsonart Expands TFL in West Wilsonart Engineered Surfaces has broken ground on a new thermally fused laminate (TFL) facility in Klamath Michael Yauk is a new Southern California technical rep for RedBuilt, Boise, Id. Falls, Or. Vivian DeMarco, Crystal Window &
Expected to be fully operational by July 2021, the Door Systems, has been promoted new facility will feature a quick-cycle press, which will to West Coast territory sales mgr., significantly increase its production capabilities on the West based in San Diego, Ca. Coast. Eric Rippe was promoted to GM of
“Our offerings have garnered tremendous support Horizon Distributors’ West Division, from both specifiers and fabricators,” said Ron Ubertini, VP-product management. “TFL is a key part of that offering, and this next expansion is a continuation of our strategy to enable us to meet growing demand and better serve our customers.” overseeing sales and operations in California, Oregon and Washington. He succeeds Phil Stephens, who is now VP. Richard Thornton is now GM of the South Division, over EWP VETERAN Tony Vuksich (center) was presented with the 2022 Bronson J. Lewis Award at the recent APA annual meeting in Aventura, Fl. He is flanked by his wife, Anita, and presenter Roy O. Martin III, APA board chair. Lowe’s Bulking Up in the West To meet fast-growing demand for building materials, Lowe’s Home Improvement Centers, Mooresville, N.C., will invest $1.7 billion to update its supply chain—with much of Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and Texas, replacing Shawn Connors, who is retiring May 1, 2023, after 26 years with the company.
the expansion centered across the western United States.
Over the past 18 months, Lowe’s opened more than a dozen facilities, including in Riverside, Ca.
Over the coming year and a half, the chain is expected to open 50 more cross-dock terminals, seven bulk distribution centers, and four e-commerce fulfillment centers. It recently inked deals for new distribution space in California, Arizona and Washington, among other states.
In October, Lowe’s opened a West Coast e-commerce fulfillment center in Mira Loma, Ca., said to improve two-day deliveries.
Lowe’s has leased 116,934-sq. ft. in a new industrial park in Gilbert, Az., to open a distribution and fulfillment center in early 2021.
It reportedly also agreed to lease 1.2 million sq. ft. at the Benaroya Pacific Northwest Regional Logistics Center in Winlock, Wa.
Second-Hand Lumberyard Reopens in Flagstaff
After being closed for nearly nine years, E.R.I.C. Building Supply, Flagstaff, Az., has reopened with a new owner.
Construction industry veteran Darwin Dahozy purchased the business and inventory, and reopened in early October after a month of prepping the long-vacant space. He admits their current collection of used, recycled and discarded building materials will require more time to organize, so initially will be closed on Mondays through Wednesdays as it continues to “clean up and organize.”
Dahozy, 49, moved to the area two years ago looking to buy or start his own business, after a career as a welder and residential/commercial fencer.
Annie Kao, VP-engineering, Simpson
Strong-Tie, Pleasanton, Ca., Was named to the board of Habitat for
Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley. Frank Addiego, CEO, All Bay Mill &
Lumber Co., American Canyon,
Ca., won the Vistage Impact Award for the Sacramento/Reno region. Lauren T. Cooper has been appointed chief conservation officer for the
Sustainable Forestry Initiative. Thurston Unger is leading a new employee weight-loss program for
Mungus-Fungus Forest Products,
Climax, Nv., report owners Hugh
Mungus and Freddy Fungus.
WHITE CAP BUYS VALLEY SUPPLY
White Cap LP, Atlanta, Ga., has acquired Valley Supply Co., Washington-based supplier of construction materials to contractors in the Puget Sound area. With six locations across Washington State, 50-year-old Valley Supply will join White Cap’s Northwest Region.
“We look forward to offering expanded service capabilities for our customers in the Puget Sound area and across our Northwest Region,” said White Cap CEO John Stegeman. “Our nationwide product offerings combined with the number of locations, strong relationships, and local expertise from the Valley Supply team will allow us to further enhance our service.”
AZEK OPENS FIRST WESTERN FACILITY
Chicago-based AZEK Co. has begun production at its first facility in the western U.S. in Boise, Id., which will also serve as the headquarters for its western operations.
AZEK committed $140 million to design, build and equip the 350,000-sq. ft. facility with advanced technology and equipment. Initially being utilized to make TimberTech composite decking, the facility currently employs 70, with the workforce expected to grow to about 150 over the next two years.
The plant also features a dedicated 3,200-sq. ft., state-of-theart training center, which will be used for AZEK University product knowledge sessions and workshops. The site also has room to expand, perhaps one day to include its own recycling operations.
TAL partnered with local contractor Mike Knutson and the award-winning Graham Baba Architects to create a modern look for its new location.
TAL ADDS NEW MARSON & MARSON YARD IN WASHINGTON
TAL Holdings has opened a new location in Ephrata, Wa., under its Marson & Marson Lumber brand.
The new store has 8,000 sq. ft. retail space and sits on a 4-acre lot with a paved lumberyard. The store includes a contractor-focused assortment of hardware and tools in addition to a staffed Design Center with cabinets, countertops, doors, and windows.
“We are excited to expand our presence in North Central Washington,” said CEO Jason Blair. “The new store will allow us to better serve our professional contractors in the area and reach new customers in the greater Columbia Basin.”
TAL BUYS 4-UNIT MILLER’S OF OREGON
TAL Holdings has agreed in principle to acquire Miller’s Home Center, with four locations in Baker City and La Grande, Or.
“As part of our strategic growth initiative and our commitment to help build better communities, we seek companies who align with TAL on operational excellence and core values,” said TAL CEO Jason Blair. “Miller’s checks these boxes and more. Current owners, Steve Colkitt and Wayne Ryder, built a tremendous business over the last several decades, and we are grateful for their trust and partnership through the acquisition process.”
Miller’s operates two home centers and lumberyards, an 18,000-sq. ft. retail store in Baker City and a 35,000-sq. ft. store in La Grande. Also in La Grande is a truss facility and a cabinet manufacturing plant.
After a transition period, Miller’s will open as part of the TAL family of companies on Dec. 12. Upon completion of the acquisition, TAL will operate 29 locations: eight in Oregon, 12 in Washington, eight in Idaho, and one in Montana.
NAUTILUS
Spectrum Railing System
CABLE RAILING SPECIALISTS
AUTHORIZED
DEADEA LERLER
Available Nationally Through Our Network of Dealers.
1.800.541.6829 | info@atlantisrail.com | www.atlantisrail.com
1 2
3 4 5
6 7
SCHMIDBAUER LUMBER, Eureka, Ca., celebrated its 50th year in business with an open house on Sept. 23. [1] Frank & Kay Schmidbauer, Peggy &, George Schmidbauer, George & Samantha Schmidbauer, Susie Schmidbauer. [2] Chris Hubbard, Charlie Britton, Dee Sanders. [3] Patty & Hap Hasty. [4] Mark Mensinger, Ron Schneider. [5] Red Emmerson, George Schmidbauer, George Schmidbauer, Jesse Johnson. [6] Rich Graham, Nathan Bucey. [7] Ron Hanson, Will Higman, Rick Deen, Alex Cousins, Tom von Moos, Todd Kintz, Bob Maurer, Clayton Welch.
THE POSSIBILITIES KEEP GROWING: REDWOOD
